DODGERS NOTEBOOK: TRACY PITCHES PENNY'S RETURN.

Byline: Tony Jackson Staff Writer

ST. LOUIS - Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said Saturday he is more, not less, optimistic now about a return this season of injured right-hander Brad Penny. But Tracy also said that if Penny doesn't go on a rehabilitation assignment, which is highly unlikely given that the minor-league season ends Monday, he will have to start out in a game that isn't especially meaningful because he initially will be on a limited pitch count.

Penny has not appeared in a game since Aug. 8, when he left in the top of the first inning with a strained right biceps and nerve inflammation.

Tracy said that while he won't allow Penny to start a critical, must-win game, that doesn't necessarily mean the Dodgers have to clinch the division title before Penny can pitch.

``I don't want to pin myself down to that,'' Tracy said. ``(But) would you entertain the thought of sending somebody out there to start a big game who can only pitch two or three innings? I don't think that's a very wise thing to do.''

Tracy's optimism about Penny's return stems from Penny's continued improvement on his throwing program, which has included long toss from as far as 180 feet. But the pitcher still apparently isn't close to getting on a mound.

The Dodgers' Single-A Vero Beach affiliate is going to the Florida State League playoffs, and the Florida Instructional League begins play in about two weeks, giving the club two more rehabilitation possibilities for Penny. But with Hurricane Frances doing damage to the Atlantic Coast, it's also possible those playoffs and possibly even that league's season could be canceled.

The Dodgers acquired Penny in a trading-deadline deal with Florida for catcher Paul Lo Duca, reliever Guillermo Mota and outfielder Juan Encarnacion. Since then, Penny has appeared in two games, and the other acquisition, first baseman Hee-Seop Choi, has batted .160.

--Perez update: Dodgers pitcher Odalis Perez, who was examined on Friday by Dr. Jason Browdy, said his right biceps is fine and that he expects to make his next scheduled start Wednesday against Arizona.

``I'm getting some treatment, and I'm going to play catch,'' Perez said Saturday, just before the Dodgers took the field for batting practice. ``The pain is not there anymore. I'm going to come in (today) and do my side session, and I'll probably make my next start.''

Perez left Thursday's game at Arizona after five innings when he experienced stiffness in his upper arm.

Tracy said that if Perez can't go Wednesday, the Dodgers will do one of two things: either use Wilson Alvarez for a spot start that night, or move everyone else up one day in the rotation, something Tracy can afford to do because of an off-day on Monday.

--Black hole: Tracy said he will continue to use catchers Brent Mayne and David Ross on a more-or-less equal basis until one of the two hits enough to earn more playing time. Right now, neither is close to doing so.

Mayne entered Saturday's game with St. Louis, which he started, batting .218. He is hitting .151 since the Dodgers acquired him from Arizona on July 31. Ross came in hitting .175, with 51 strikeouts in 137 at-bats. Tracy has said Tom Wilson, whose contract was purchased on Wednesday from Triple-A Las Vegas, won't start behind the plate at all for the Dodgers.

Tony Jackson,[phone]

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- Tony Jackson